Systems for expression of heterologous proteins in m capsulatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention related to an expression system for the expression of proteins and peptides in a methanotrophic bacterium preferable the  M. capsulatus.  Further, the invention relates to the exportation and display of said peptides and proteins on the surface of said bacteria. The Invention also describes a method for the production of a desired protein in the  M. capsulatus.

[0001] The present invention relates to the expression of heterologous proteins in the bacteria M. capsulatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to the exportation and display of polypeptides and proteins on the surface of said bacteria.

[0002] The expression of polypeptides on the surface of bacteria and bacteriophage has been pursued for several years, in part because of interest in recombinant antibody production. Many other potential applications exist, including the production of genetically-engineered whole cell adsorbents, construction of “peptide libraries”, cell bound enzymes, and use as live vaccines or immunogens to generate antibodies.

[0003] In bacteria, one approach to obtaining surface expressed foreign proteins has been the use of native membrane proteins as a carrier for a foreign protein. In general, most attempts to develop methods of anchoring proteins on a bacterial surface have focused on fusion of the desired recombinant polypeptide to a native protein that is normally exposed on the cell's exterior with the hope that the resulting hybrid will also be localized on the surface.

[0004] The present invention also provides an expression system where a heterologous polypeptide (termed “desired” protein) is expressed in the bacteria Methylococcus capsulatus. The heterologous protein is preferably linked to one of the outer membrane proteins in M. capsulatus. These outer membrane proteins have been identified based on sequence homology studies, and the novel sequences of these proteins are claimed.

[0005] The identified sequences given as SEQ ID NO 1 to SEQ ID NO 4 are nucleotides which codes for the proteins MopC, MopD, MopE and MopF, respectively. The present invention further claims the sequence given in SEQ ID NO 5, which is identified as D15, and the sequences given as SEQ ID NO 6 to SEQ ID NO 14 as these sequences are identified as helper proteins.

[0006] The present invention thus relates to a nucleotide molecule wherein the molecule has a sequence which codes for a nucleotide sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NOS 1-14. Preferable the nucleotide molecules codes for a surface exposed protein.

[0007] The nucleotide molecule is further linked in frame to the nucleotide molecule which codes for a desired peptide or protein. This protein may be a drug.

[0008] The present invention also relates to a recombinant vector comprising a first nucleotide sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NO 1 to SEQ iD NO 14.

[0009] 12. Recombinant vector according to claim 11, wherein the nucleotide sequence further comprises a second nucleotide sequence. Preferred embodiments of this recombinant vector is given in the subclaims.

[0010] Further, the invention relates to a bacterial host cell transformed with the recombinant vector. Preferably, the the bacterial cell is M. capsulatus.

[0011] Further, the invention relates to a method for producing a desired protein in a bacterial host cell, said method comprising transforming a bacterial host cell with a recombinant vector comprising a first nucleotide sequence from the group comprising SEQ ID NO 1 to SEQ ID NO 14, and said vector comprising a further nucleotide sequence encoding said protein, said further nucleotide sequence being operably linked in frame to said first nucleotide sequence, and culturing said transformed host cell in a suitable medium under conditions allowing expression of said protein.

[0012] A preferred embodiment of the invention uses the method to produce a medicament which can be administered orally.

[0013] The invention also relates to proteins according to claim 37, and fusion proteins according to claim 39.

[0014] The broadest concept claimed in the present invention is a system for the expression of heterologous proteins in the M. capsulatus. We have shown that it is possible to express a protein portion of a virus in the M. capsulatus, and the present invention thus for the first time describes an expression system in said bacterium.

[0015] An further object of the present invention is to provide an expression system where the desired heterologous protein is presented on the surface of the bacterial cells. We have thus identified several membrane proteins which can be used as transporter proteins for the desired heterologous passenger proteins, in order to translocate the desired protein to the membrane. Preferable the desired proteins are located on the outer side of the membrane.

[0016] The fusion protein according to the invention is preferable expressed from a chimeric DNA having a DNA segment encoding a leader amino acid sequence capable of mediating secretion of the fusion protein, a DNA segment encoding for subunits of the surface protein, and a DNA segment encoding the desired target protein. The DNA segments are positioned such that expression of the fusion protein results in display of the target protein on the surface of the cells. The fusion proteins are preferably anchored to the cell surface of a the bacteria forming what is referred to as a “display bacteria.”

[0017] The present invention thus provides for a system for the expression of heterologous proteins, where the heterologous proteins are expressed on the surface of the bacterial cells.

[0018] The chimeric DNA may be integrated into the bacterial cell chromosome or be carried by a vector. In certain preferred embodiments, expression of the fusion protein may be regulated by an inducible promoter. Bacteria displaying a particular protein may be selected, for example, using antibody affinity. The fusion protein can be detached from selected cells. If desired, the target protein may be separated from the surface protein and further purified.

[0019] Target proteins useful in the present invention include peptides, proteins, e.g., hormones, enzymes, inhibitors, and receptors, antigens, antibodies including antibody fragments and single-chain antibodies.

[0020] The present invention thus provides a system for the expression of heterologous proteins in the membrane fraction, and preferable on the cell surface of the M. capsulatus.

[0021] The bacterium M. capsulatus is able to utilise methane as a single carbon and energy source. Bacteria capable of oxidising methane is collectively referred to as methanotrophs. They belong to different families and groups of the eubacteria but have in common the possession of the unusual enzyme methane monooxygenare, which catalyses the oxidation of methane to methanol.

[0022] The bacterium has an obligate requirement for methane or methanol and an optimum growth temperature of 45° C. Methane is oxidized via methanol to formaldehyde which is either assimilated into cellular biomass or dissimilated to carbon dioxide to release cellular energy.

[0023]M. capsulatus has a gram-negative cell envelope. Much of the intracellular space is occupied by an extensive intracytoplasmic membrane system. The genome of M. capsulatus (Bath) has a molecular weight of 2.8×10⁹ Da and a G+C content of 62.5 %.

[0024] Commercial interests involving M. capsulatus and other methanotrophs could roughly be divided into two categories: Those taking advantage of the inexpensive growth requirements of the bacteria and those taking advantage of unique catalytic activities possessed by the bacteria.

[0025] The development of high-cell density fermentation technology for M. capsulatus has created the possibility of producing large quantities of specialised compounds like for instance amino acids, cofactors, vitamins, metabolic end products, and various high value proteins, at reasonable costs.

[0026] The present invention thus provides a system for the manufacturing of such product.

[0027] Other uses for the protein display methods of the present invention include, for example, epitope mapping, screening of antibody libraries and live bacterial vaccines.

[0028] In a co-pending application the inventors of the invention provides data for several of the genes in the genome of the Methylococcus capsulatus. Some of these genes are sharing significant homology with genes encoding surface proteins in other bacteria, and the proteins encoded by these genes could be used in an expression system to transport heterologous proteins to the surface of methanotrophic bacteria. These findings are exemplified by the the establishing of a fusion protein of MopE from M. capsulatus and the VP2 protein of the infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) virus, as detailed in the experimental section.

[0029] The invention is especially suited for production of vaccines that can be administered orally for use in animals, fish and humans. The technique can also potentially be used for display of vaccines, especially for oral administration.

[0030] The invention relates to the use of the genes and the proteins encoded by them, as given in the accompanying sequences list, fragments thereof, or functionally equivalent substantially homologous genes, for construction of fusion proteins carrying foreign peptide sequences for display in the M. capsulatus, and preferable on the surface of said bacterium.

[0031] “Substantially homologous” as used herein defines sequences displaying at least 80as sequence identity and also functionally equivalent allelic variants and related genes modified by single or multiple base substitutions or addition and/or deletion.

[0032] Surface proteins in accordance with the present invention are the outer membrane proteins MopC (SEQ ID NO 1), Mop D (SEQ ID NO 2), MopE (SEQ ID NO 3) and MopF (SEQ ID NO 4).

[0033] Further, one of the genes (SEQ ID NO 5) encodes a homologue of a surface protein-antigen (sometimes termed D15) identified in a variety of Gram-negative bacteria.

[0034] Further, the present inventors have identified several proteins involved in the presentation of the above mentioned proteins on the surface. These proteins are in this context termed “helper proteins”, and are encoded by the sequences SEQ ID NO 6 to 14.

[0035] The M. capsulatus surface-antigen homologue (DIS) is a large protein with a molecular weight about 80 kD sharing about 50% sequence identity with the corresponding protein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The similarity with other Gram-negative bacteria is in the range 39 to about 20% identity. These bacteria include many important human pathogenes, like Vibrio cholerae (39% identity), Shigella flexneri (38% identity), Neisseria meningitidis (36% identity), Haemophilus influenzaa (32%), Campylobacter jejuni (23%), Sorrelia burgdorferi (21%), and animal pathogens such as Pasteurella myzultocida (34%9) and Brucella abortus (28%). When used for immunization of experimental animals, the D15 protein from H. influenzae and P. multocida has been shown to trigger an immune response that protects the immunized animals against infection by the respective bacteria.

[0036] Thus, the D15 antigen as a protein class has proven to be an immunogenic protein, and use of the DIS antigen as a vaccine against a variety of diseases caused by Gram-negative bacteria is a promising idea. Many other pathogens within the genera Vibrio and Shigella, as well as related genera, probably also possesses a D15 antigen, but have not yet been characterized by sequencing of their genes. Several important fish pathogens which belong to genus Vibrio and the related genus Aeromonas, probably also contain this antigen. There is a great demand for efficient and inexpensive vaccines for protection against infections caused by all the bacteria mentioned above, and many more could be listed.

[0037]M. capsulatus is a bacterium licensed for use in animal and fish feed. It has no virulent or pathogenic properties, and contains very low amounts of endotoxin (LPS). It is thus well suited as a carrier organism for recombinant oral vaccines, with a potential also for use in humans. Vaccines could be constructed by insertion of fragments of D15 genes from pathogens into the M. capsulatus D15 gene in order to display a fusion-protein containing parts of the two D15 antigens on the surface of M. capsulatus. The part of the DIS protein originating from the pathogen should trigger an immune response to the respective pathogenic bacterium. If replacement of M. capsulatus-specific D15 sequences with corresponding sequences from the pathogens is well tolerated by the host, larger regions of D15 could be replaced, and if possible, the entire D15 protein could be replaced by the corresponding protein from a pathogen.

[0038] Due to the sequence conservation of D15 among distantly related bacteria, exchange of parts of the gene (or the entire gene) without seriously affecting the survival and growth of M. capsulatus is plausible. The specific function of the D15 antigen on the surface of the bacteria is not known, but it possibly plays a structural role and is most probably not involved in any important biochemical processes.

[0039] Successful display of the target protein on the cell surface can be detected using a number of methods, for example, if the target peptide can be specifically labelled by a procedure that does not operate through the membrane, its cell surface display can be readily demonstrated,

[0040] If the target polypeptide displays enzymatic activity, one may use such activity to demonstrate cell surface display. Antibodies against the target protein may also be used.

[0041] The chimeric DNA may be integrated into the host cell chromosome or be carried within a vector. Methods of integrating DNA into a host cell chromosome are well known in the art. The chimeric DNA may also be carried within a recombinant vector, e.g., a plasmid.

[0042] Plasmids useful as the vector backbone include plasmids containing replicon and control sequences which are derived from species compatible with the host cell. The vector may also contain an inducible promoter and marker gene, e.g., antibiotic resistance.

[0043] Introduction of the chimeric DNA to the host cell may be effected by any method known to those skilled in the art. For example, if a recombinant vector carries the DNA, the vector can be introduced, for example, by transformation, electroporation, or phage transfection.

[0044] The detection techniques noted above can be used initially to verify that the method of the present invention is working, i.e., that the fusion surface protein has been expressed and transported to the bacterial cell surface and is orientated so that the target protein is accessible i.e., displayed.

[0045] Cells that display the target may be separated from those that do not, using, for example, affinity separation techniques. Such techniques include affinity column chromatography, batch elution from affinity matrix material and fluorescent-activated cell sorting.

[0046] MopE is a major outer membrane protein of M. capsulatus. It contains surface-exposed regions but its exact folding and association with the cell surface is not known. Under copper limitations, the C-terminal part of the protein is secreted into the growth medium, but considerable amounts of the full-length protein remains associated with the cell surface. By using this protein as an anchor it is possible to mediate translocation of passenger proteins to the cell surface or to the extracellular environment. Other outer membrane proteins according to the invention are MopC, MopD and MopF. These outer membrane proteins share structure similarities and it is thus anticipated that also these proteins can be used for the expression of heterologous proteins in M. capsulatus.

[0047] In order to establish the expression system according to the invention, and to illustrate the concept of the invention, fusion proteins composed of MopE and the VP2 protein of the infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) virus were constructed. The proteins were expressed in M. capsulatus (Bath) and their location within the cell was investigated.

EXPERIMENTAL SECTION

[0048] Bacterial Strains and Growth Conditions

[0049]M. capsulatus (Bath) was obtained from the National Collections of Industrial and Marine Bacteria (NCIMB 1132). E. coli DH5 was used for routine cloning purposes and E. coli S17-1 was used as a donor strain in the conjugation experiments. Both strains were grown in Luria-Bertani (LB) medium supplimented with the appropriate antibiotic. M. capsulatus was grown with methane as a carbon source in nitrate mineral salts (NMS) medium (Whittenbury et al. 1970). Cells grown in medium supplemented with 1 mg/l CuSO₄.5 H₂O are referred to as “high copper cells”. Cells referred to as “low copper cells” were grown in NMS with no copper added and containing the modifications of Stolyar et al. (1999).

[0050] Recombinant DNA Techniques

[0051] Four different DNA fragments were amplified by PCR. These encoded the immediate upstream region of the smmo operon, the N-terminal region of MopE, the F2 region of the VP2 protein, and the C-terminal, secreted region of MopE. The primers used for the amplifications are listed in Table I. TABLE 1 Nucleotide sequences of primers used to amplify DNA fragments PCR amplification product^(a) Primer seguences^(b) smmo upstream region (1500) 5′-CGGATCGTTGAGCTCTTTTCCCATC-3′ (SacI) 5′-GCTAAGTGCCATATGTTGTTTCCTC-3′ (NdeI) MopE N-terminal region (722) Sp6 primer (Promega) 5′-GCGTGTCCAGGatCcCGGAGTTCGCTG-3′ (BamHI) F2 region of VP2 protein (581) 5′-CTAACAACGAACCagatctACAAAGTCAACAAC-3′ (BgIII) 5′-GAGAAGGAGACGGggatccGACCCATTGTG-3′ (BamHI) MopE C-terminal region and downstream 5′-CAGCGAACTCCGgGatCCTGGACAC-3′ (BamHI) termination signal 5′-GCTGGAAAAAGCatgCGCCCAACTC-3′ (SphI)

[0052] DNA fragments encoding the N- and C-terminal domain of MopE were amplified by PCR from the plasmid pAFpg10 (Fjellbirkeland et al. 2001). The F2 region of the VP2 protein was amplified from a plasmid containing the entire genome of VP2 (kindly provided by E. Bjering, NorBio). The 1500 bp inmmediate upstream region of the smmo operon was amplified from chromosomal DNA. The PCR products were cleaved with appropriate restriction enzymes and inserted into plasmid pJB3Km1 (Blatny et al. 1997). DNA was sequenced using the ABI PRISM BigDye Terminator Cycle Sequencing Ready Reaction Kit and the DNA sequencer at the University of Bergen Core Facility.

[0053] Conjugation

[0054] Conjugation between E. coli S17-1 (donor strain) and M. capsulatus was carried out essential as described by Lloyd et al. (1999). 10 ml of an over-night culture of E. coli S17-1 containing the recombinant mopE product was washed by centrifugation (7000 rpm for 5 min) and resuspended in 10 ml NMS. The E. coli suspension was mixed with 50 ml M. capsulatus (1.8·10⁸ cells/ml; A₆₀₀=0.22) and filtered down on a 0.2μ nitrocellulose filter. The filter was incubated on NMS-agar plates under an atmosphere of methane:air:CO₂ (48:50:2) at 42° C. for 14 h. The conjugation was terminated by vortexing the filter in 10 ml NMS. To select for recombinant M. capsulatus, 200 Ïl of the cell suspension from point 4 was plated on NMS-agar plate with 30 Ïg/mi kanamycin as selective agent. The plate was incubated under an atmosphere of methane:air:CO₂ (48:50:2) until visible growth was obtained. M. caspsulatus grown with 30 Ïg/ml kanamycin was shown to contain plasmid with recombinant mopE.

[0055] SDS-PAGE and Western Blotting

[0056] SDS-PAGE and Western blotting were performed as described previously (Fjellbirkeland et al. 2001). Anti-MopE antiserum was produced as described (Fjellbirkeland et al. 1997). Anti-VP2 antiserum and F2 monoclonal antibodies were provided by E. Bjering, NorBio.

[0057] Differential Fractionation of M. capsulatus

[0058] Outer membranes were isolated from M. capsulatus as described previously (Fjellbirkeland et al. 1997).

RESULTS

[0059] The results obtained are given in the FIGS. 1-5, wherein:

[0060]FIG. 1 shows the two fusion constructs cloned in Methylococcus capsulatus

[0061]FIG. 2 presents the Western blot treated with anti-MopE antiserum of M. capsulatus grown in low-copper medium. Cells contained no plasmid (lane 1), plasmid pJB3KM1 (lane 2) Construct a (lane 3), and Construct b (lane 4)

[0062]FIG. 3 is the SDS-PAGE of M. capsulatus grown in high and low copper media. High copper (lane 1) and low copper cells (lane 2) grown in fermentor (kindly provided by C J Murrell, University of Warwick). The cells run in lanes 3, 4, 5 and 6 are identical to those of lanes 1, 2, 3, and 4 in FIG. 2, respectively

[0063]FIG. 4 shows the Western blot treated with anti-MopE antiserum of M. capsulatus grown in high copper medium. Cells contained Construct b (lane 1), Construct a (lane 2), plasmid pJB3KM1 (lane 3), and no plasmid (lane 4)

[0064]FIG. 5 shows the Western blot treated with anti-MopE Antiserum of outer membranes isolated from M. capsulatus grown in low copper medium Cells. contained plasmid pJB3KM1 (lane 1) and Construct b (lane 2)

[0065] The 5′-end of the mopE gene was ligated to DNA encoding the F2 region of the VP2 protein of the IPN virus. The F2 region is a conserved neutralizing epitope of IPN virus and is thus regarded as an important component of a potential subunit vaccine against IPN in fish (Frost et al. 1995). The mopE 5′-end encoded the part of MopE that is not secreted into the growth medium. The secreted protein starts with a glycine and cleavage occurs between Ala₂₀₄ and Gly₂₀₅ of the mature protein (Fjellbirkeland et al. 2001). In order to prevent cleavage and secretion of the IPN peptide, the two amino acids in the cleavage region were changed to glycine and isoleucine, respectively. Since the C-terminal part of MopE is secreted, it seems likely that the X-terminal region of the protein is responsible for anchoring MopE to the cell wall. To investigate whether the N-terminal fragment was sufficient for outer membrane translocation of the heterologous passenger peptide, a deletion protein composed of the N-terminal non-secreted domain of MopE and the virus epitope was constructed (Construct a, FIG. 1). In Construct b (FIG. 1) the viral peptide was inserted between the N-terminal and C-terminal domain of MopE. This allowed investigations of the importance of the C-terminal part of MopE for membrane translocation.

[0066] A DNA sequence corresponding to the 1500 bp immediate upstream region of the smmo operon (Stainthorpe et al. 1990) was inserted in front of the fusion genes. Transcription of sMMO is regulated by copper (Nielsen et al. 1996; 1997). Thus, by including this promoter element it should be possible to repress/induce expression of the fusion protein by manipulating the copper level in the growth medium.

[0067] The constructs were ligated into a broad-host-range plasmid and cloned in E. coli S-17. The plasmids were subsequently transferred to M. capsulatus by conjugation. Sequencing verified that the conjugated plasmids contained the correct inserts and that PCR had not resulted in mutations of the fusion genes. The recombinant cells were grown in a low-copper medium that enhances sMMO expression (Stolyar et al. 1999) and analyzed by Western blotting. Cells containing no plasmid and cells containing the plasmid only were used as negative controls. Anti-MopE antiserum recognized a band corresponding to MopE in all cells (FIG. 2). In cells containing Construct b, three additional bands were recognized (FIG. 2, lane 4). These had approximately molecular weights of 40, 60 and 80 kDa. The calculated molecular weight of the fusion protein of Construct b is 75 kDa. MopE migrates slightly above its calculated molecular weight in SDS-PAGE (Fjellbirkeland et al. 2001) and thus the 80 kDa band most likely represents the entire fusion protein. The 40 kDa and 60 kDa band could represent truncated versions of the fusion protein but their composition will have to be studied more closely. In cells containing Construct a no fusion protein could be detected indicating that the C-terminal part of MopE is important for stabilization of the protein.

[0068] The immunoblots were also treated with polygonal and monoclonal VP2 antiserum. These did not recognize any of the fusion proteins. This could be due to the low levels of fusion protein produced by the cells. The recombinant cells contain several copies of the plasmid and provided the promoter that drives the expression of the fusion protein is not repressed, a relatively high level of recombinant protein should be produced. The low level may thus be a result of an inefficient promoter. To investigate this, the level of sMMO was analyzed by SDS-PAGE. The gel demonstrated that pMMO rather than the sMMO was the dominant methane monooxygenase produced by the cells (FIG. 3) indicating that the smmo promoter was repressed.

[0069] The level of fusion protein in cells grown in high copper media was also analyzed. On Western blot treated with anti-MopE antiserum, low levels of fusion protein was detected (FIG. 4). This further strengthened the assumption that production of fusion protein by the low copper cells was due to leakage from a repressed promoter. Like sMMO production, MopE production is regulated by the copper level in the medium (unpublished results), and MopE could not be detected in the high copper cells. However, the 40 and 80 kDa polypeptides could be detected in cells containing Construct b, and this clearly demonstrates that these polypeptides are produced from a promoter different from the MopE promoter.

[0070] The low copper cells containing Construct b were fractionated in order to determine the cellular location of the recombinant polypeptides. The 40 kDa band was detected in the soluble fraction containing cytoplasmic and periplasmic proteins (not shown). A faint 80 kDa band was detected in the outer membrane as well as a high molecular band which could represent a dimer of the fusion protein (FIG. 5). However, due to the low level of fusion protein and the enrichment of MopE in the outer membranes, it is difficult to discriminate between fusion proteins and MopE aggregates in the gel.

[0071] Discussion

[0072] A fusion protein of which a viral epitope has been inserted between the N-terminal non-secreted and C-terminal secreted domains of MopE has been expressed in M. capsulatus. The smmo promoter is repressed in low-copper media but the growth condition used in this study did not seem to derepress the promoter completely. It is possible that growth of the recombinant cells in a fermentor rather than flasks will result in more efficient expression of the fusion protein since fermentor grown cells switch more efficiently between sMMO and pMMO production than cells grown in flasks (Stanley et al. 1983).

[0073] A DNA construct composed of only the N-terminal non-secreted part of MopE and the viral epitope did not produce any detectable fusion protein. This indicates that the C-terminal part of MopE is required in order to obtain a stable protein product. It should be noted, however, that the fusion gene of Construct b was followed by the RNA polymerase termination signal of MopE. The fusion gene of Construct a was followed by plasmid sequence and this may have resulted in unstable, not properly terminated RNA. It is thus possible that propagation of Construct a in an expression vector will result in production of a stable fusion protein.

[0074] The 80 kDa fusion protein appeared to be transported to the outer membrane of M. capsulatus. However, due to the enrichment of MopE in the outer membrane and the low levels of fusion protein, it was difficult to determine whether the observed high molecular bands represent the fusion protein or aggregates of MopE.

[0075] Conclusion

[0076] It has been demonstrated that it is possible to express heterologous peptides in M. capsulatus by using the native protein MopE as a fusion partner. The results indicate that the fusion protein is transported to the outer membrane but more research will be needed in order to be able to determine more specific which parts of MopE that are required for surface display/secretion.

REFERENCES

[0077] Blatny J M, Brautaset T, Winther-Larsen R C, Haugan K, Valla S. (1997). Construction and use of a versatile set of broad-host-range cloning and expression vectors based on the RK2 replicon. Appl Environ Microbiol. 63: 370-379

[0078] Fjellbirkeland A, Kruger P G, Bemanian V, Hogh B T, Murrell J C, Jensen H B. (2001) The C-terminal part of the surface-associated protein MopE of the methanotroph Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) is secreted into the growth medium. Arch Microbiol. 176: 197-203.

[0079] Frost P. Havarstein L S, Lygren B, Stahl S, Endresen C, Christie K S. (1995) Mapping of neutralization epitopes on infectious pancreatic necrosis viruses. J Gen Virol. 76: 1165-72.

[0080] Lloyd J S, De Marco P, Dalton H, Murrell J C. (1999) Heterologous expression of soluble methane monooxygenase genes in methanotrophs containing only particulate methane monooxygenase. Arch Microbiol 171: 364-370

[0081] Nielsen A K, Gerdes K, Degn H, Murrell J C. (1996) Regulation of bacterial methane oxidation: transcription of the soluble methane mono-oxygenase overon of Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) is repressed by copper ions. Microbiology. 142: 1289-1296.

[0082] Nielsen A K, Gerdes K, Murrell J C. (1997) Copper-dependent reciprocal transcriptional regulation of methane monooxygenase genes in Methylococcus capsulatus and Methylosinus trichosporium. Mol Microbiol. 25: 399-409.

[0083] Stainthorpe A C, Lees V, Salmond G P C, Dalton H, Murrell J C. (1990). The methane monooxygenase gene cluster of Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath). Gene 91: 27-34

[0084] Stanley S H, Prior S D, Leak, D J, Dalton t. (1983) Copper stress underlies the fundamental change in intracellular location of methane mono-oxygenase in methane-oxidizing organisms: studies in batch and continous cultures. 7: 487-492

[0085] Stolyar S, Costello A M, Peeples T L, Lidstrom M E. (1999) Role of multiple genecopies in particulate methane monooxygenase activity in the methane-oxidizing bacterium Methylococcus capsulatus Bath. Microbiology 145: 1235-1244

[0086] Whittenbury R, Phillips K C & Wilkinson J F (1970) Enrichment, isolation and some properties of methane-utilizing bacteria. J. Gen. Microbiol. 61: 205-218

1 14 1 1496 DNA Methylococcus capsulatus 1 gatcagagcc ggttcggcag gttgtcgttg accaccggca cgcggcagtt gtccagagac 60 aggccgggcg catggctgta gggcaggatc ggattgttgg gatcgaactt gccatccgcc 120 gacggggtgt tgcccgccgt ggtcaccgcg agataaccgc cctggccgaa gggatgcgcg 180 taggcggcgt tgttcttggc ggtcaggctg gggctgccgg catcggatgc gatcttctgg 240 atgatcttca gcttgtcgcc ggtcggaccg ttgtaggcgg gtttgcgcca ttgataggta 300 ttttccgccc aatccatgta gtggccgctt gccgtgttgg cgagcgtggg tgcaacgccg 360 tcgatggcga tgaaacggta gttgtatttg aggttggcat tgcgttcggt gctctgtaca 420 ccgatggccc aggccttgac tccggccgca ttggctttgc tgttgttggt gccttgattg 480 aaatcatcca ggcaggtgtc gacattcccc gcgcccgagt tcaggatcac gaccggtcct 540 gccagcggat tggaggtgga agcgggactc aatgcgctgt cggtgcaggg tgcattgagg 600 aaattggcat tggtggtggc ctgggtaccc gatccgttga cccggcggca gatatagacc 660 ttgtcgtccg tgatcgatcc gttggcgtat tgggtcaagt cgcctttcgc ctggccgttc 720 ttgtcgacga ctttgatttc gctccatttg ccgatgttgc cggtgagcag gctggcgatc 780 tgatactttc tcaggctggg catgcagcgc tcggtgtcct gcccttcgca gtccgggtcc 840 agggtaccca tgtcgatctg ggcgcgctgc aaggcgtcgc gcagagattt ggtcaccggc 900 gtgttgaaaa ccagggcgcc gccggagacc acgtccaggc gctggctgac cttcgcggga 960 tccaccggag ccacgccatc cggcgtgttc atgctccgga acatcgcggg attgacgtcg 1020 gagacgccgg cgtcggacac cttttgcgcg aggtcgccgg gctgggagat ccggcacagc 1080 cagttaccgc tcgccgcatc cttctggcag ttgccgttgt tgatcatcat ggcgtcgatc 1140 gcctgttcgt cgagcaccgg gcccacaccc tgcgccgaac cgccggcgga gcgcttgtgg 1200 aacagtactt tgggattgtt gacggaaagc cccgtcactt tggacgaatc gatctggcag 1260 aagatagccg tgtgtgcgga accggggttg gaggggttcg agttgtcgaa atagacatcg 1320 agcgttcctc ccacgcagag ttcttcgaac aattgccgga cattgccatc ctgggccgat 1380 gcgccggaca tgaagatttc gatgtcgggc gatacgccgg gttccaatgc ccagccctga 1440 gcgcagaatc ccagagagct tgccgcgacc gctgcagcga ttttcttgac ttgcat 1496 2 1374 DNA Methylococcus capsulatus 2 atgcatcgcc catgtctgaa tccggccggc tcggcaacgc cgggttcgcg tggcgaacga 60 gagtttttcc catttacgga gagtgcgaaa accatgaaga aattgcgagc agtttttctg 120 ggcacgctgg tcgccgcggg gcacccggcc catgcggcca tcaacgacgg gaagttcgga 180 acgccgggcg agttgttcat ctcgatcctg gatgtggacg gaaagaagtc ctattacaag 240 gacctcggcg tcgatatggt ccagttcatg aacggccagg gctgcctcga cgccaatctg 300 gcgcaggatc ccaattttgc ggcctttgcc ggcaaaacca acctggtcta caacatcgcg 360 gcggtcaatc ccttgctgaa ggatgccagt aacatcactc aatggggcta tctggccaca 420 tcgagccagg gcaaggacat tttcagcgcc aaatggaacc tgatcgacaa tgcgatccag 480 aagatccagg gttacatcgc cgccctcaac gtccagccgt tcgagaacaa gcccgggcag 540 gcggcggaga acaaatcggg cgtgttcggt cccgacgacc ttgcctatca cggcaagggc 600 acctggggtc ccaccatggg aagctccgtc aacggcaaca ccgaaggtgc ccccggcgcc 660 gaactcgagt tctatttcgt caacaactcc accggcgatt ccaaggggga acacatcacg 720 aagctggggg catggagctt gtcgagcgcc ggcgctctga gctacagcgg caccggcacc 780 tcgaccctgt gctcgggatc ggggaacaaa gccccgacgg cggccatcac caatcccgct 840 cagacggtag cggtcaatac caccgtcacc ctggacggca gcgccagcac cgatcccgac 900 aacggtcccc aacccttgtc ctacgcatgg aagcagacct ccggccccac ggtgacgttg 960 agcaacgctg atcaggcgaa agccagcttc acacccgccg aggtcggcag ctacaccttc 1020 cagttgacgg tcagcgacgg cgccgccacc ggtaccgccc aagccaccgt cacggtggaa 1080 ggcagctcca cgggcgcttc catccacatc gatgcgcccg cggcctggaa ggtcaagcag 1140 gctcagacag tcgcctggac caccacggaa gtgccggcca gcaagctggt caacctcgag 1200 ttctccaccg acggcggctc caagttcaag aaactgaaga gcgtcgccaa caaaaaagga 1260 cagaccctgt ggaaaccgac caagaagcac gtcacacaac agggtgtgct ccgggtttgc 1320 gtcaaaccga gcaaaaagtt ctcgttcgtc tgcgaccaga tcgacgtcac gggg 1374 3 1624 DNA Methylococcus capsulatus 3 atgagagaca ccatgaacga aaagcattgc tactccttac tggccgccgg cctcatcgcc 60 gccgtgccgc aactcgcagc cgcccacgga ggcactcacg acgtcaccgc ggtcgcccac 120 ctgagctatt cggaagccta ttcggaaaag ctcaagaagg gtcaggaagt gggcaccgag 180 ctgctggtgc tggacggacg cttcgaattc aacgaacacg tcggcatggg tgacatcacc 240 ccggacacga cctggtcggc cgtcgtgcag ggccagaccc tggcaacggg taccctgggc 300 gacgccacca agaagaagtt cggcgccaag ggcggcatgg cggtgatcaa cgtgcccggc 360 ggcggtacgc tcaaattcac ctggaacgcc aaggccatca tgctcaagct gaaatggacc 420 ggcgagccgg ccttggcccg gctgtacaag gaccagaaca ccagcatcaa tctgccgcaa 480 ttcccggtcg acatcgcgat cggcagtctg cacggctact tcaacgttcc ggtcaccggc 540 caggcgaagg ccacgaccaa gaacggcacc atgctgtcca agatcgcctt gaaaggcaca 600 gcgaactccg cgggcctgga cacgctggac cgggacggcg acggctccac ggccgacgcc 660 gattgcaacg acttcgcgcc caccatccat ccgggcgccg ccgaagcgac gctggacggc 720 gtggattcca actgcgacgg gcgcgactcc ggcgtggcgg aagtcgtcga gaccttcaag 780 aatccgggca cctactccag cccggtcatc aacttcaaga tcgcttcgcc gccggggccg 840 ggaacgccca tctacgggcc gccgcgtgat ttctccggtt acaacaagag ctactcgctg 900 gcgatcggca agacctcgta ctacgatccg accaccggca ccaagtggaa cgacgacacc 960 atcacgccgg tcagtgatgg tcaggacatc tggcgcggct ggacccatac cggcaagtgg 1020 tcgttcttca acggcaaggc cggcgacaag atcaccctca gcgtacagcg tgatgcgcag 1080 gaagccagcc tgaaaggcgc ccatccgggc ttcatcctgt tctggcggcc cgagggcggt 1140 ccgctgttct gggccggcac ccaggatctc gacgagggcc agaccgcgct gcccgccgac 1200 tccgacaccg ttatcggcca cgtgatcgtt cagcacgccg actggaccct gcagggcttg 1260 ccgcccaagg ccgaccatac cgcacccgcg ggcgtggata ccgagctcta tcccatgaag 1320 ccggacagct acaccatgta ctacgtcgac tccggctacg atgccgacaa gtacgtggca 1380 tcgaagaagc tcatcatgca ccccacggcg ttcaaagggc tggccctgaa cgacggcacc 1440 gccggggcgt tcaccaagtc catcaccctg ccgaagacgg gctattacat gctgtacgtc 1500 gccaacgtcc tggaagtgga cgactggagc gtcgacgcgg acggcaagct caccaccacc 1560 ggcgaagtct ggraagtgcc ggccaagggc tgctgggtca acatcacgat ctccaagccg 1620 taaa 1624 4 842 DNA Methylococcus capsulatus 4 gccgctccga aagcccatgc ttcttcggcc caggcttcgc tggaacggag actgcaggta 60 atggaacagg aaatgcaggc gctgcgtgct gaactcgagg cgtcgcgctc aaaggccgaa 120 gcggaagcgg cggaagccaa agcggaggca aaggatacgg ctcagcaggt acaggctcag 180 caggcgaaag tgaatcaggg gcttgccgag ctggccaaac acgaagaaaa gaaggatgac 240 atggtcttct tccgtggtgg ctgggcagcc atgaatcatg ctcgtaccag cgaactgctg 300 gtcaacaaca atctcctttc gtcgaacaat ttcggttccg acaaggccgg ctggtatgtc 360 ggcgcaggtc tggatcaccg tctgagcgac gacaccttcg gcatttccga cgacctggcg 420 ctcgatgccg aaatcatgtt cgactacaag aactacggca gcgtcaacaa ctcattcgtc 480 agcagcgtga cgggcacgcg gatgcaggcg caggtcacca tgttctccct gtatgcatct 540 cccaagctga aatacaccgg catcgaagga ttccgtccct ggatcgtgcc gttcggtctc 600 agcgtcaacg tcatcagccc gccctccagc ggcgtgaccg tgttgaatcc cggtctgatg 660 ctcggtaccg gtctggagta caatatcttc aagaacctgt gggtgggtgc cgacttccgg 720 tacaacttca ccggcggcga cctgaactac agcgtcagga cgaacaacgg caagaccatc 780 ttgaacagca ccgatacgga caactacacc gccggtgctt acgtcggcat cggcttctga 840 ag 842 5 2388 DNA Methylococcus capsulatus 5 atgaccgacg ggttccggac ttacgcatgc cccatcccat cgcttccggc caggcccttg 60 aacgatagtt ctgccgcatt ttcaggggga gtggaatccg tgcgccgcct gtgtgcatgg 120 ttgctgatcc tgacatggtc gtccgtgctg ttcgcgttcg agcccttcgt catccgggac 180 atccggatcg aggggctgca gcggatttcg gagggtacgg tgttcaacta cctgcctgtc 240 cgggagggcg acaccctcga tgaaaaacgg tcggccgagg tgatccgggc gctgttcaag 300 acggggtttt tcaaggacgt ccgtctggac gaggacgacg gtaagttgat catctacgtc 360 gaagagcgtc cttcgatttc cagcgtaaag atcgacggca accatgacat cggtagcgag 420 gatctgctga aggcgctcaa gggaatcggg ctggcggagg ggaaggtatt cgaccggcag 480 attctcgaca aggtcgaaca ggaactgcgg cgccagtatt acagccgggg caaatacagc 540 cttaaaatcg attcccaggt gacggaactg ccccggaacc gtgtggcggt gaatatcaat 600 atcgcggagg ggcgcgttgc tcgcataaaa cagatcaata tcatcggaaa taatgcattt 660 agtgatgatg atctgaccca ggattttgag ctgagtacat ccaatctcct gtctttctat 720 accaaggatg atcagtattc caagcagaaa ttgtcggccg atctggagcg gctgcgctcc 780 tactatctcg atcgcggtta cgtcaatttc gaaatcgagt ccacccaggt atcgatcacg 840 cccaacaaga aagaaatata tatcaccatc aacgttaagg agggcgaggt cttcaaggtg 900 gagcaggtca ggctgaccgg caagaccatc gtgccacccg aacaactcgt cccgctcgtg 960 cgtatcgggc cggaggatat tttttccagg aaactggcga cagaaaccca gaagggcatt 1020 tccgatcgtt tgggcgagga gggctatatc ttcgccaacg tcaatatggt gccggacatc 1080 aatcaggaga agaagaccgt aaacatcacc tttttcgtcg atccgggcaa acaggtctac 1140 gtgaggcgaa tcaatttcca gggcaatacc aagacgcgtg acgaagtgct gcgcagggaa 1200 atgcggcaga tggaggcggc ctgggcgtcg accgcgaaga tcgagcgttc caagaccagg 1260 ctcgagcgtc tcggctattt ccaggatgtc aacgtggaga cgcccgcggt gccgggaacg 1320 acggatcaga tcgacgtcaa ctacagtgtg accgagaagt cttccggcaa cctgacggcg 1380 ggtgtagggt attcccagtt ccagggcatc atattcaatg cggcggtcac ccaggacaac 1440 attttcggca gcggcaagcg tgtcagtttc aatttcaaca acagccagat caacaccatc 1500 tatgccttgg ggtatttcaa tccttacgcc accctggatg gcatcagcag tggtttcgac 1560 atcagctatc gcgacaccaa caccggctat tcgaactatg ttgccaacta cattaccaat 1620 gtgttccagg tgggcggcaa ctgggggttg cccatcggag agttcgacag tattcggacc 1680 aacctggact acagtaacac caagctcaag acgacctccc agtcttccga tcaaatcaga 1740 gcgttcattg ccgaccatgg cagcgagtat tcgacctatt cgtcctcact gggttggacc 1800 catgacaccc tgaatcgggc gatattcgcg accagcggtg gcgcgcagcg attgacggga 1860 ctgtttgccc tgccgttcag caccctgcag tattacaagg ccaacgtgcg cctggagcag 1920 tattttccgc tgacccagga tctgacgctg tggttgaatg gcgatttcgg ttacggcggc 1980 ggctatggca gtggcggcaa cagcgtcctt ccgttctggg aacactttta cgccggcggt 2040 ccgaattccg tgcgtggata ccagcccaat tcactggggc ccagggacag ccgtggctac 2100 gccttcggcg gcaacagcaa actgaccggc tcggtggagt tgctgtttcc ggtcccgttt 2160 gcgggcgaga aactgaagag tgtccgcttg ggtaccttcg tcgacggcgg gaatgtgttc 2220 gtcaattcgc cccagctttc ggacctgcgc ttctcgaccg gcatttcggc caagtggcta 2280 tcacccttcg gggccctgat gttctcgatc gcccagccgc tcaactccca gagcggggac 2340 cgaattcagc attttcaatt caatttcggt tccggattcc agggcatg 2388 6 1158 DNA Methylococcus capsulatus 6 ttgccggctc ctcgtggaaa gaaccggatc gcccctcgac cccgaccacc ggctcgctgc 60 cgatcggcca cggtctggca tcggcggggg gagcggtggg aggcgttagg ccggcacggg 120 tggaccctct gccggcgggg tcgcgcccgg acagtggctt cggcagtggt ttcgacggaa 180 ggacgacagg ccacgaaccc ttgcctgcca agcccgacat ttcgcccgac ccacttgaag 240 caggttttcc gcgctcactt gtcaatcccg agagcccgaa aatccacgga tgaccgattt 300 tatgaaggta ttgatctcgg tgttgccgac gcgcgcatag acggtgggtc ggtctgcaca 360 cccctccccc cagctgacga cgccgacttg aatgaccttt cccgagaccc ttcggaacaa 420 cggaccaccg ctgtcgcctt gacaggcgcc cttggcacga acggcggcac acagttgaac 480 agtgccgtcg aacttggaac cgtaggccgt gatatcgcaa agcgcatctt ccatgatggg 540 catggaaact tggcgcattt ctgccgggaa ataggggggt ggaatgtgat cgtcgttcca 600 ataccaggcg acgatactgc cccatcccgc gaccgtgacc catgtgttgg cgctgtcctg 660 ccctgcggtc gccagccgga cggtcttggc gcgcgccacc ttgcgatcga gttcgagcac 720 ggcgacatca taaggaagcc tgacatcccc gggttccctg tatttcggat gcacatgaat 780 cgccgaaacg cgccgtgctc gtccttgatg ccttccgtag gtcgtcatac cgaccatggc 840 cgtataatcc gacggatcgt tgacgacata cccgccatca tcaagatttt cagtgacaca 900 gtgggcggcc gtcaaaacat gacgagagga aatcatactc cctccgcaca catgaccgta 960 cggatcggac tcggattttc gcgactcccg ctgaagcgcc acgacgaagc cataacgccc 1020 ttcaaccacc ggatcaccat tgaccacctc aggtctcatc gccagattcc aggcagtctc 1080 cgccgcctcg gaaccggcgc tcacgagaga tatgcacgac acaacgatcg accatccgcc 1140 acaccaccgc agcctcat 1158 7 795 DNA Methylococcus capsulatus 7 atgagacctg aggtggtcaa tggtgatccg gtggttgaag ggcgttatgg cttcgtcgtg 60 gcgcttcagc gggagtcgcg aaaatccgag tccgatccgt acggtcatgt gtgcggaggg 120 agtatgattt cctctcgtca tgttttgacg gccgcccact gtgtcactga aaatcttgat 180 gatggcgggt atgtcgtcaa cgatccgtcg gattatacgg ccatggtcgg tatgacgacc 240 tacggaaggc atcaaggacg agcacggcgc gtttcggcga ttcatgtgca tccgaaatac 300 agggaacccg gggatgtcag gcttccttat gatgtcgccg tgctcgaact cgatcgcaag 360 gtggcgcgcg ccaagaccgt ccggctggcg accgcagggc aggacagcgc caacacatgg 420 gtcacggtcg cgggatgggg cagtatcgtc gcctggtatt ggaacgacga tcacattcca 480 cccccctatt tcccggcaga aatgcgccaa gtttccatgc ccatcatgga agatgcgctt 540 tgcgatatca cggcctacgg ttccaagttc gacggcactg ttcaactgtg tgccgccgtt 600 cgtgccaagg gcgcctgtca aggcgacagc ggtggtccgt tgttccgaag ggtctcggga 660 aaggtcattc aagtcggcgt cgtcagctgg ggggaggggt gtgcagaccg acccaccgtc 720 tatgcgcgcg tcggcaacac cgagatcaat accttcataa aatcggtcat ccgtggattt 780 tcgggctctc gggat 795 8 2532 DNA Methylococcus capsulatus 8 gtgcgggatt atcggcgcaa tcggaccggc tgtcacggac gatgggcccg attgcagcag 60 ccgccggttt ggcggatcat gagccctccc gcagttcgtc gacaacaagg aatcatgaac 120 ggccatcccg ctgcgctccc ccccgaccgt ctccttaccc cctgcgatcc cgccagcttc 180 tggttcgaaa ccaccgccga actggcggat accgacatca tcatcggcca gccccgcgcc 240 ctggaagcca tccagctggg cctcaaagtc gctcagaaag ggttcaacgt gttcgtgctg 300 gggccgcccg gcagcggcaa actgaccgcg gcgcgcgaac tcgcagaacg catcgccgcc 360 acccagccac cgccgagcga ctggtgctac gtcaacaact tcgccaaccc cgcccagccc 420 aaggcactgc gcctgccggc cggctgggga cggcacttgg cgcacgacat ggaagtggtg 480 gtcgaggatc tggtttccgc cctcccggca gccttcgaag gcgaggaata ccgcagccgc 540 gccgaaaaga tcgaacagca ggcgcgcgag cgcgaagccg aggcggtcaa ccggctacgg 600 gcggaggcat tgcggagccg catcgcactg atcgagaccc cgaccggctt tgccttcgct 660 ccgatgcagc gggaccagga cgagatcatc agcccggacc agttccagaa cctgtcggac 720 caggaacgcc aggccatcga gaccaccgtc gccgacctgc agcagcaact gcagaagatc 780 ctccgccagt ttccggcctg gcgcaaagag gcgcgcggca aactcaaggc gctcaaccgc 840 gaaatcgccg aattcacggt gtcccatcag ttcgccgacc tcaaagcacg ctatgccagc 900 ctgcccggcg tgatcgagta cctgaacctg gcccaggccg acatcatcga acacacagag 960 tcgtttctcc ccaaggccga aggcgtcatc agcctgttcg aagggccgca gaaagcgccg 1020 gcacagcgct accggatcaa cctggtggtc gatcacagcg aactcaccgc cgcaccggtg 1080 gtgcaggaag atctgcccac ccacggcaac ctgatcgggc ggatcgagca ccaggcccac 1140 atgggagcgc tggtgaccga tttcaccatg atccggccgg gcgccctgca caaagccaac 1200 ggtggctacc tgctgctcga tgcgcgcaaa ctcctgagcc agccgttcgc ctgggagacg 1260 ctgaagcgcg ccctgcatgc cggcgagatc cgcatcgaag cgctggaacg cagcctcagc 1320 ctcatcagta ccaccagcct ggaaccggag ccgatcccgc tggatctcaa ggtcatcctg 1380 ttcggcgagc gcatgctcta tttcctgctg gacatctatg acccggaatt ccccgagttc 1440 ttcaagatcg ccgccgactt cgaagaggtc ctgccacgcg acgcggattc gatcgaactg 1500 tacgcgcgga tggttgccac cctggcccgc cgcgagaaac tgcggccgtt gcaccgggag 1560 gcggtggccc gcatcgtcga gcatgcctcg cggcggaccg gcgacagcga gaagctgagc 1620 gcgcatctgc gcagtctggc cgacctgatg agggaggccg atttctatgc aggcagcgac 1680 ggacgcaacc tcatcaccgc agccgacgtc gaacacgcca tcagccgccg gatctaccgc 1740 tccgaccgcc tccgcaaccg ggtccaggaa gcgatacggc gggggctgat cttcgttgac 1800 accgaaggtg cggtagcggg ccagatcaac ggcctctccg tattccagct caatgatttc 1860 gccttcggcc agccctcgcg gatcaccgcc accacccgtc ccggcagcgg acgcatcctg 1920 gacatcgaaa aagaaaccga gctcggcggc gccctgcaca gcaaaggcgt gctgatcctc 1980 ggcaatttcc tcgcttcgcg ctattccggc gcccagggct tctcggtcgc cgccagcctg 2040 gtgttcgagc agtcttacgg cggcgtggac ggcgacagcg cttcgctggc cgagctgtgc 2100 gcggtgctgt cctcgatcgc cgaagtgccg atccggcaga gtctggccat caccggttcg 2160 gtcgaccagc acggccgggt gcagcccata ggcggcgtga acgagaagat cgaaggcttc 2220 ttcgacgtct gcgcggcgcg cggcctgacc ggcgaccacg gcgtgatcat cccggcggcc 2280 aacgtcgtgc acctgatgct gcggcgggac gtggtgcagg ccgcggccga agggaaattc 2340 cacgtctatg cggtgtctca agtcgacgag gcgctggaac tcctcaccgg catcccggtg 2400 ggtcggcgtg acgaaaccgg cgtgttcccg gaaggttcgc tgaacaggaa ggtggaagaa 2460 cggctcaagg acttcgccgc ggtgctgcgc agcctgcaga agagcggcga agagacgggc 2520 ggggagaaac at 2532 9 1911 DNA Methylococcus capsulatus 9 atggccaaac actcccagca ttcctcccct ccccgcaagc tgttcgatac tttgaacgat 60 ctctggcagc gggcgaaaag cgaggccggc ctctcggccg aaggtcccga gggcacccgc 120 cgccgcaaca acctgattct gtatctgttg ctggtgctgt ccaccctgta cctgctgaac 180 gggtatcaga ctctgcgcaa cgaggaaatt ccctacagcg aattcctgaa agcggtggcc 240 gaaggcagag tggaacaggc cgtggtcacc gagcagacca tttcgggcac cctcaagccc 300 gaagccgagg gtgaatcgac ccggcccttc atcactgtgc cactgtggaa ccacgaactc 360 gccgcggaac tggaaaaaaa gggcgtgaaa tacacggtac gctatggcag taactggttc 420 agcagcctga tcttcaactg gatcgtcccc atcgttctgc tcaccctgtt ctggacctgg 480 atggcgcggc gcatgaccgg ggggagggga ttcctgagca tcggcaagaa gacccggatc 540 caggccgaca ccgccgccaa agtcacgttc ggcgacgtgg ccggcgccga cgaagccaag 600 caggagctgc gggaaaccat cgagttcctg cagaacccca cccgcatcca gagcctgggc 660 ggacgcatgc ccaagggcgt gctgctggtc ggcccacccg gcaccggcaa gactctcctg 720 gcccgcgccg tcgccggcga agccggggtc ccgttcttca acatcagcgg ctcggagttc 780 atcgaactgt tcgtgggggt cggtgccgca cgcgtccgcg acttgttcga acaggcccgc 840 cagaatgccc catgcatcat cttcatcgac gagctggacg ccatcggccg atcccgcggc 900 ggtccggtgg tgatgggtgg ccacgacgag cgcgagcaga ccctcaacca gctgctgacc 960 gagatggacg gcttcgaccc ctcggtcggc gtcgccgtga tggccgccac caaccgtccg 1020 gaaatcctgg acaaggctct gctccgctcc ggtcgcttcg accgccagat cgttgtggac 1080 aagccggggc tggaggaccg ggtttcgatc ctcaaactgc atacccggaa gatgaaactg 1140 gcagcggatg tcgatctacg tgtggtcgcc cagcgcacac ccggcttcgt cggcgccgat 1200 ctggcaaacg ccgccaacga ggccgccatc atcgccgtac gcgcgaacaa ggccgccatc 1260 ggcatggcgg acttcgaggc tgccatcgac cgtatcctgg cgggtccgga gaagaagagc 1320 cggctgctca acgatgcaga gaagcaccgc gtggccgtcc acgaatccgg ccacgccctg 1380 gtcgccgaaa tcgtgccgac cggccaaccc gtgcacaagg tgtcgatcat tccccgcggc 1440 gccgcggccc tgggattcac cctgcagctt ccggtggaag agaaattttt gtcgaccgag 1500 caggaactga aggatcagat cgccatcctc ctgggcggcc gcaccgcgga ggagctggtg 1560 ttcggcgaat cctccagcgg cgcccagaac gacctggaaa aggcttccga gatcgcccgc 1620 accatggttt gcagcctcgg aatgagcaag gtgctcggtc ccctcaccta cggccggcgt 1680 cagcagctcg cctacctcag cgtcgaaggc gccgaggaac gcaacttcag cgaggaaacg 1740 gcacggctga tcgacaacga ggttcggaaa ctgatcgagg aaggcttgca gcgcgtgcgc 1800 gaaatcctca cccaccaccg cgtcacactg gacaggctcg ccgccctgct ccgggaaaag 1860 gaagtcgtga gcggggaaga cgtcaaagcg gtgatccgcg aagcggcatc c 1911 10 1395 DNA Methylococcus capsulatus 10 ttggaccctc ttgctatgcg gtttagaaag ataatcgata gaggtaattc catgcgcatg 60 aaatccatcg gcgcgctgtt gctactgacc gccagcggcc tgtccctctg ccccccggtg 120 tgggccgatt tgcccgccag cgtcaacggt ctgccactgc ccagcctcgc gcccgtcttg 180 aagaaggcca tgcccgcggt ggtcaacatc tcgacgaaga cccagatcga aatcgccgag 240 aatcccctga tgcaagaccc cttcttccga catttcttcg gtattccgaa tcagccgcgg 300 cgccgtgaga gctccagcct cggctccggg gtgatcgtcg acgcccgccg aggctacatc 360 ctcaccaaca accatgtgat cgacaaggcg gacgagataa gcgtgacctt gagagacgga 420 cgccagttga gcgcaaaact ggtcggcgcc gatccggagt cggatttggc cgtcatcaag 480 gtcgaaccca agaatctgac ggaactgccc atcggtgatt cgagtcagct cgaagtcggc 540 gacttcgtgg tagccatcgg caatcccttt ggcctggggc agacagtgac ctccggcatc 600 gtcagtgccc tggggcgatc cggactcggc attgaggggt acgaggattt catccagacc 660 gacgcctcga tcaaccccgg caactcggga ggcgccttga tcaatctccg tggcgagctg 720 gtcggcgtga atacggccat catcgctccc accggcggaa acgtgggcat cggtttcgcc 780 atcccgtcca acatggccgc cagcatcatg acccaactgg tcgaaaaggg cgaaatccgc 840 cgcggccaga tcggcatcac catccaagac ctgacgccgg atctcgctca ggcctttggc 900 ctgaagcaga gccagggcgc ggtgatcacc ggcgtccaaa aggattcccc ggccgcatct 960 tcgggcctgg aagccggcga cgtcgtcgtc agcgtcaatg accgcccggt caaaaacagc 1020 gcggacgtcc gcaacaccat cggcctcctg cccataggcg aagaagtccg ggtcgaagtg 1080 atgcacaagg gggagagagt ggtacgcgag gtggtgatcc gcgcccccaa actggtccag 1140 gaagagggca ataaaatcca tcccagactg tccggtgtca tacttaagaa caacgaggag 1200 ggcggtgtcc aggtggaaaa aatccacacg agttcttacg ccttccaggc cggcctgcgc 1260 cccggcgacg tgatcgtgat ggcgaaccgc gaggaaatcg aaacgctcga tgacctgaag 1320 cgcgccacca agggccgctc ggagctgctc ctcagcgtcc agcggggcag cggctcgttc 1380 ttcttgatgc tgaag 1395 11 830 DNA Methylococcus capsulatus 11 atgcctaagt tcattcaaag aatcgccgcc gtctcggtag cggcggccct cggcctgagt 60 ggctgcgagt cgctgctgcc cgacttttac aaaaagccgg tttcaccgga gagcctgaag 120 atcgagaagg tgtcgaccga gcctccgccc gcgccgctgg cggaggccca gaccgacatg 180 ctcaagaagc cggagtacta tccgcggaag ggggccgtgg tcaatccgcc gtccgccggc 240 ggtggcggct acccgggttc cgccaccacg tcctccgctg gcggcggtgc gaccgggaaa 300 ggaggcggcc gcacctcgcc ccggaaagaa ggcaagtaca ccctcaattt cgacgacgcc 360 gacctgtcgg aagtcaccaa ggtcatcctc ggcgatacgc tgaaggtgaa ttacgtcctg 420 agtcccaagg tcaccggcaa ggtgagtctg cagaccaccc ggccgctgac cgaggacgag 480 atgatcccga cgctggagac cctgctgcgg atgaacgggg cggcgctgat ccgggagggc 540 ggcatgtaca aaatcgaacc cgacgcccag gcggcgatca gcgcctccgg ccccggggtc 600 gggctgggaa tgatggagcc gggttaccag ttgcgggtca ttcctttgcg ttacatcagc 660 gccgcggaaa tgcagaaagt gctggagccc atcatgccgc ccaaggccgt gctgcggatg 720 gacgagaccc gcaatctggt catggtggcc ggtacggcgg aagagttggc ggcgtcatgg 780 aagcggtgca gattttcgac gtcgactaca tgcggggcag ggtaggtagg 830 12 429 DNA Methylococcus capsulatus 12 atgaagcatc gacgtttcgt ccgtagtcgc agcggtttca ccctgatcga gctgctggtc 60 gtgctggcca tcatcgggct gctcgccgga ctgatcggtc cccaggtcat gaaacatctg 120 ggcgagtcca agtccaagac cgcccgtctc cagatcgaag aactggcttc gtcgctggac 180 atgtacaagc tggacgtggg ccgttatccc accaccgatg aagggctgaa cgccctgatc 240 gaacagccca gcacggcgcg ggtctggaat ggcccttacc tgcgcaagaa gaaggttccg 300 ctggatccct ggaacaaccc gttccattac gtctcgccgg gacagcacgg taagtacgac 360 ctctggtcgc tcggccagga caacgccgag ggcggcgaag gcgaggatgc cgatatcctc 420 ggctgggaa 429 13 789 DNA Methylococcus capsulatus 13 gtgttgcggc gtttcctcga gatcctcgag ctaccccacg gtatcatcct gatcacggga 60 cccaccggca gcggcaaaag caccacgctg tataccgccc tgcacaagat caacacgcct 120 tcgcgcaaga tcatcacggt cgaggacccg gtggaatacc agctggaagg cgtcaaccag 180 atccaggtca agccccagat cggtctgaat ttcgcgagcg cgctgcgctc catcatgcgt 240 caggacccgg atgtgatcat gatcggtgag atgcgcgatc tggagacggc ccgtatcgcc 300 gtgcaatcgg cgctgaccgg ccacctggta ctgtccacgc tgcacaccaa tgacgccgcc 360 ggcggcgtga cccgtctttt ggacatgggg ctcgaggact atctcatcac ctcgaccgtg 420 aatggtattc tcggccagcg tctggtgcgg cggctgtgtc agagttgccg cgaaccacat 480 ccggcgctgg aggaggtcgc ggaagaaatg gggctgcggc ggttccagcg tgacggcgag 540 gtggtgctgt accggccggt cggctgcgaa caatgcggcg gcaccggttt tcgtggacgg 600 ctcgcgatcc tcgagttcct ggtcatgtcc gacgaggtgc ggcggttggt gatgagtcac 660 gcccaggcgc ggcagatcga ggaggtcgcc ctacgcgaag gcatgcatac catgtatgac 720 gatggtgtcc gcaaggcttt gatggggctg accaccgtcg aagaggtcct gcgcgtcacc 780 tcggattcc 789 14 1437 DNA Methylococcus capsulatus 14 atgaataagc ccgcgtttgc cgctttattg ctgtcacttt tggcgccagc cgcttccgcc 60 gtcgatctgc tcggcgtatt cgatctcgca ctgcaatacg atccccgtct gcatgcggcg 120 caggcccagc gcgacgcggc gctcgagaac aagccgcagg ccgtggcccg gctgctgccg 180 acggtgtccg ccaccaccgg actgacccga cagatggtcc agaccggtga ctcgcccatc 240 ctggtgttca acgccaaaaa gaacgtcggt ttctggctgg cgaccggcat cgtgcagctg 300 gtgcagccta tctaccagca cgacctgtgg gtgcggctgg cccaggccga caatgcggtg 360 gccgaagccg aagccctcta cgcggcggaa ctgcagagcg tgatgctacg ggtgacccag 420 acctatttcg aggtcctgta caaggaagcg tcgctggact tcgccagggc cgaactggag 480 tcgatcaatc gggagctgga gcaggccaat gcccgcttcg aggtcggcct gtcggcggtg 540 accgacgtga acgaggcgca ggcggcggcg gacagggcgc gggcgggcgt catcatcgcc 600 gaaaacgagc tgaacaacgc ccgggagcat ctgcgccaga tcgtgggtga cgatccgggc 660 gagctggaac cgctgaagct cgaagtgccg ttggaagatc caatgccgga cgacatcgag 720 cgctggaacg acaccgccca gcagagtgcg ctgaccatca tcgccgcgac caaccgggca 780 gaccgggcca aacaggaaat cgaggtgcag ttcgccgggc actatccttc gatcaacctg 840 atcgccgatg cccagttcta tgacaatgac cggccgcccc gccccaaccg ctaccagcag 900 caggacgtgg gcatgcagat caacgtgccg ctgttcgcgg gcggcggggt caattcccgg 960 gtccggcagg cgcgcttcgg cttcgaagcc gccatccagc agctggacca ggagcgccgc 1020 gcggtacgca ccagggtgaa gaatgcctat cgggccatcc gctccgccat cggccaggcc 1080 aaggccttca aaaccgcgat caaatcgtcg gaaagcgcac tggaggccgc catcgccggc 1140 atggaggtcg gcacccgcac catgacggac gtgctgttcg tacagcgcca gtattaccag 1200 aacaaacgcg acttcgccct ggccctgcgc gactacatcg tcaacagcgt cgcgctgaag 1260 gaagccgcca gcgtcatgca gcgcgaggac ctggaccgga tcaacggctg gctacaggcc 1320 ccgcccgcag cgccggcgaa ggacgggacc ggagccgcgc ccatgcaacc gggatccggg 1380 ccggtccgca aggccggccg aggcgccccg gcgccaagcg ctccgaatct tcaccgc 1437 

1. Nucleotide molecule wherein the molecule has a sequence comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO
 3. 2. Nucleotide molecule according to claim 1, wherein the nucleotide molecules codes for a surface exposed protein.
 3. Nucleotide molecule according to claim 1, wherein the nucleotide molecule further comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding for a desired peptide or protein.
 4. Nucleotide molecule according,to claim 3, wherein said peptide or protein is a drug.
 5. Nucleotide molecule according to claim 3, wherein said peptide or protein is an antigen or an antibody.
 6. Nucleotide molecule according to claim 1, wherein the nucleotide further comprises a gene encoding for a selection marker.
 7. Nucleotide molecule according to claim 6, wherein the selection marker is an antibiotic selection marker.
 8. Nucleotide molecule according to claim 7, wherein said antibiotic selection marker is kanamycin.
 9. Recombinant vector comprising a first nucleotide sequence comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO
 3. 10. Recombinant vector according to claim 9, wherein the nucleotide sequence further comprises a second nucleotide sequence.
 11. Recombinant vector according to claim 10, wherein said second nucleotide sequence having multiple cloning sites, said multiple cloning sites being positioned such that insertion of a third nucleotide sequence into said cloning site operable links said third nucleotide sequence to said first nucleotide sequence.
 12. Recombinant vector according to claim 11, wherein said third nucleotide sequence codes for a desired protein or peptide.
 13. Recombinant Vector according to claim 12, wherein said protein or peptide is a drug.
 14. Recombinant vector according to claim 13, wherein said protein or peptide is an antigen or an antibody.
 15. Recombinant vector according to claim 9, wherein said nucleotide sequence further comprises a gene encoding a selection marker.
 16. Recombinant vector according to claim 15, wherein said selection marker is an antibiotic selection marker.
 17. Recombinant vector according to claim 16, wherein said antibiotic selection marker is kanamycin.
 18. Recombinant vector according to claim 9, wherein said nucleic acid further comprises a replication origin that function in the host M. capsulatus.
 19. Recombinant vector according to claim 18, wherein said replication origin is smmo.
 20. Recombinant vector according to claim 18, wherein said replication origin is pmmo.
 21. Recombinant vector according to one of the claims 9-20, wherein the desired protein is expressed in the membrane fraction of M. capsulatus.
 22. Recombinant vector according to claim 21, wherein the desired protein is expressed on the surface of the outer membrane of M. capsulatus.
 23. Recombinant vector according to one of the claims 9-21, wherein the nucleotide coding for the desired protein contains a region which codes for a peptide stretch functioning as a substrate for a hydrolyzing enzyme capable of cleaving the desired protein from the remaining of the membrane anchored protein, such that the desired protein is excreted to the culture medium.
 24. Recombinant vector according to claim 9, wherein the recombinant vector is a plasmid.
 25. Recombinant vector according to claim 24, wherein the plasmid is pAFpg10.
 26. Bacterial host cell transformed with the recombinant vector according to one of the claims 9 to
 25. 26b. Bacterial host cell according to claim 26, wherein the desired protein is expressed in the membrane. 26c. Bacterial host cell according to claim 26, wherein the desired protein is expressed on the surface of the outer membrane.
 27. Bacterial host cell according to claim 26, 26 b or 26 c, wherein the bacterial cell is M. capsulatus.
 28. A method for producing a desired protein in a bacterial host cell, said method comprising transforming a bacterial host cell with a recombinant vector comprising a first nucleotide sequence comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO 3, and said vector comprising a further nucleotide sequence encoding said protein, said further nucleotide sequence being operably linked in frame to said first nucleotide sequence, and culturing said transformed host cell in a suitable medium under conditions allowing expression of said protein.
 29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the method further comprises the step of recovering the expressed protein or peptide from the medium.
 30. A method according to claim 28, wherein the host cell is M. capsulatus.
 31. A method according to claim 30, wherein the desired expressed protein is a drug.
 32. A method according to claims 31, wherein the drug is extracted from the host cell, or used together with the host cell for the manufacturing of a vaccine.
 33. A method according to claim 31, wherein the vaccine is for oral administration.
 34. Protein capable of being exposed on the surface of a methanotrophic bacterium, wherein the protein is encoded for by a nucleotide sequence comprising the sequence of SEQ ID No
 3. 35. Protein according to claim 34, wherein the bacterium is M. capsulatus.
 36. Fusion protein containing a protein or peptide sequence encoded for by a nucleotide sequence comprising the SEQ ID NO 3, and a further desired protein or peptide.
 37. Nucleotide molecule wherein the molecule has a sequence which codes for a nucleotide sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NOS 1-3 and 4-14.
 38. Nucleotide molecule according to claim 37, wherein the nucleotide molecules codes for a surface exposed protein.
 39. Nucleotide molecule according to claim 37, wherein the nucleotide molecule further comprises a nucleotide sequence, wherein said further nucleotide sequence is a coding sequence operably linked in frame to the nucleotide molecule which codes for a desired peptide or protein.
 40. Nucleotide molecule according to claim 39, wherein said peptide or protein is a drug.
 41. Nucleotide molecule according to claim 40, wherein said peptide or protein is an antigen or an antibody.
 42. Nucleotide molecule according to claim 37, wherein the nucleotide further comprises a gene encoding for a selection marker.
 43. Nucleotide molecule according to claim 42, wherein the selection marker is an antibiotic selection marker.
 44. Nucleotide molecule according to claim 43, wherein said antibiotic selection marker is kanamycin.
 45. Nucleotide molecule according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said molecule is incorporated and expressed in a methanotrophic bacterium.
 46. Nucleotide molecule according to claim 45, wherein said bacterium is M. capsulatus.
 47. Recombinant vector comprising a first nucleotide sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NO 1-2 and SEQ iD NO 4-14.
 48. Recombinant vector according to claim 47, wherein the nucleotide sequence further comprises a second nucleotide, sequence.
 49. Recombinant vector according to claim 48, wherein said second nucleotide sequence having multiple cloning sites, said multiple cloning sites being positioned such that insertion of a third nucleotide sequence into said cloning site operably links said third nucleotide sequence to said first nucleotide sequence.
 50. Recombinant vector according to claim 49, wherein said third nucleotide sequence codes for a desired protein or peptide.
 51. Recombinant vector according to claim 50, wherein said protein or peptide is a drug.
 52. Recombinant vector according to claim 51, wherein said protein or peptide is an antigen or an antibody.
 53. Recombinant vector according to claim 47, wherein said nucleated sequence further comprises a gene encoding a selection marker.
 54. Recombinant vector according to claim 53, wherein said selection marker is an antibiotic selection marker.
 55. Recombinant vector according to claim 54, wherein said antibiotic selection marker is kanamycin.
 56. Recombinant vector according to claim 47, wherein said nucleic acid further comprises a replication origin that function in the host M. capsulatus.
 57. Recombinant vector according to claim 56, wherein said replication origin is smmo.
 58. Recombinant vector according to claim 57, wherein said replication origin is pmmo.
 59. Recombinant vector according to one of the claims 47-58, wherein the desired protein is expressed in the host M. capsulatus.
 60. Recombinant vector according to claim 59, wherein the desired protein is expressed in the membrane fraction of M. capsulatus.
 61. Recombinant vector according to claim 60, wherein the desired protein is expressed on the surface of the outer membrane of M. capsulatus.
 62. Recombinant vector according to one of the claims 47-58, wherein the nucleotide coding for the desired protein contains a region which codes for a peptide stretch functioning as a substrate for a hydrolyzing enzyme capable of cleaving the desired protein from the remaining of the membrane anchored protein, such that the desired protein is excreted to the culture medium.
 63. Recombinant vector according to claim 47, wherein the recombinant vector is a plasmid.
 64. Recombinant vector according to claim 63, wherein the plasmid is pAFpg10.
 65. Bacterial host cell transformed with the recombinant vector according to one of the claims 47 to
 64. 66. Bacterial host cell according to claim 65, wherein the bacterial cell is M. capsulatus.
 67. A method for producing a desired protein in a bacterial host cell, said method comprising transforming a bacterial host cell with a recombinant vector comprising a first nucleotide sequence from the group comprising SEQ ID NO 1-2and SEQ ID NO 4-14, and said vector comprising a further nucleotide sequence encoding said protein, said further nucleotide sequence being operably linked in frame to said first nucleotide sequence, and culturing said transformed host cell in a suitable medium under conditions allowing expression of said protein.
 68. A method according to claim 67, wherein the method further comprises the step of recovering the expressed protein or peptide from the medium.
 69. A method according to claim 68, wherein the host cell is M. capsulatus.
 70. A method according to claim 69, wherein the desired expressed protein is a drug.
 71. A method according to claims 70, wherein the drug is extracted from the host cell, or used together with the host cell for the manufacturing of a vaccine.
 72. A method according to claim 71, wherein the vaccine is for oral administration.
 73. Protein capable of being exposed on the surface of a methanotrophic bacterium, wherein the protein is encoded for by a nucleotide sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NO 1-2 and SEQ ID NO 4-14.
 74. Protein according to claim 73, wherein the bacterium is M. capsulatus.
 75. Fusion protein containing a protein or peptide sequence encoded for by a nucleotide sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NO 1 to SEQ ID NO 14, and a further desired protein or peptide. 